Lately I have been paying close attention to the fitness trainers at
the gym. I exercise at a big box gym in Independence where members are
very diverse with a substantial geriatric population. These young
twenty-something trainers are having their older clients perform
exercises that are totally inappropriate for their fitness level and
age. I have to do all I can not to say anything.
Exercising
myself for over 20 years with an aging body, I have had to learn the
hard way beyond my fitness certification on how to not only train my own
body but how to work with older people and those with injuries.
The
most important thing older people can do is to get a strong core,
something fitness trainers say they work on but they don't because they
confuse the core with working the abdominal muscles. A strong core will
protect the spine, improve posture and movement, and prevent serious
injuries.
I learned this the hard way at the age of 46
after 20 years of heavy weight lifting beyond what my frame could handle
which worked my joints instead of my muscles, I had a stupid moment and
did a power lifting move that ruptured my L5/S1 disc. That was over 2
years ago and although I am improving, I am still experiencing pain.
This experience has made me a lot wiser and I would like to share what I
have learned on my journey with the medical profession because I
believe it can help others.
So if you have an aging body or injury and want to know how to modify your
exercise program, feel free to post a question, comment on this blog or
reach out via email to me or Sara.
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